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This episode features Sarah Kessell, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales.
Sarah reveals the early story behind finding her best life working in conservation. When she was younger, she told her school careers teacher her dream job would be 'saving the green bits of the planet'. Flummoxed, he proved not to be that helpful and she ended up studying art and literature not knowing where that would take her.
Sarah's lightbulb moment came when she read The Last Chance to See while backpacking around the world.
On her return to the UK, a University of Reading careers advisor encouraged Sarah to apply for a science masters in environmental land management and conservation, even though her bachelors degree had been arts-related. In her own words, she blagged her way on to a course with the University of Surrey, and admits it was an initial stretch to make that change. She recalls that statistics made her cry, until she realised she didn't have to understand the how, more the what, and her subsequent career is testament to her abilities and dedication.
Sarah has worked as:
Sarah returned to Wales, where she had lived as a child, when she became a senior reserves manager for The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. She was appointed the trust's chief executive officer (CEO) in 2009, managing 90 wildlife reserves from Cardiff to Aberystwyth, including the island reserves of Skokholm and Skomer. A career highlight was meeting Sir David Attenborough when he was filming at Skomer Island and one of the delights of her choices has been bringing up her own family in Wales.
Sarah explains:
Sarah also reminds us that as consumers and voters, we all have the power to make greener choices that are kinder to the planet.
The Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams and zoologist Mark Carwardine
Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth
Sir David Attenborough visits Skomer Island as part of the BBC's Wild Isles series
Volunteering opportunities at the South and West Wales Wildlife Trust
Season 1 Episode 2: Green Party councillor and communications officer Jamie Osborn
Season 1 Episode 1: Rae Wilkinson, RHS gold medal winning sustainable garden and landscape designer, who also volunteered with the TCV.
Season 1 Episode 8: Jake Fiennes, director of Holkham national nature reserve
Season 1 Episode 10: Duncan Goose, CEO of Global Ethics and One Water, who, like Sarah, had a careers lightbulb moment after reading a book.
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